This lively sketch depicts Pissarro's nephew, his half-sister's
son, Alfred Isaacson. The artist's own son, Lucien, stayed with
Alfred and his family when in London. Writing to Lucien in a letter
dated December 28, 1883, Pissarro mentions this portrait, stating
that it is a good resemblance (see Letters in Literature
above). The spirited letter mostly addresses popular philosophical
matters, revealing the artist's passion for the groundbreaking
liberal ideas of the day. Pissarro promises to send his son a copy
of Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du Mal and also encourages Alfred
to read books on socialism as well as the works of John Stuart
Mill: "They are easy reading and should give him [Alfred] a general
idea of the movement which points to the new road our society must
take" (Letters, p. 50).

This work will be included in the forthcoming Pissarro Catalogue
critique of gouaches and pastels being prepared by the
Wildenstein Institute. The authenticity of this work has been
confirmed by Claire Durand-Ruel Snollaerts.

Condition Report*:

Sheet is hinged at top edge verso and is trimmed unevenly across all edges; a small 1.25 x .5 inch repaired tear at top right edge, not visible when matted and framed; spots of discoloration on verso and a number of these show through to the recto in background and body of figure; surface soiling along extreme edges and a few soft handling creases at lower right edge; framed under glass. Framed Dimensions 30 X 27.75 X 3.5 Inches

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